February 14 – 16, 2025

Snow Gums (Eucalyptus pauciflora) are the classic tree of the Australian High Country. They are profoundly different to the trees found in mountain areas in other parts of the world, and give a uniquely Australian sense to our high country. However, they are facing a double threat to their survival: from fire and dieback.

We are hosting a 'snow gum summit' which will bring together land managers and academics and anyone interested in the future of this iconic species to explore what needs to be done to ensure the survival of snow gum woodlands, and put the issue firmly on the state governments agenda.

We have invited First Nations people, local and state wide environmental organisations, local communities and businesses, groups active in outdoors recreation, and enthusiasts of high-elevation, forest ecosystems.  There will be presentations, workshops and field trips.

This event will happen at Dinner Plain, on GunaiKurnai Country in north eastern Victoria.

The forum is on friday February 14 and saturday February 15, with guided walks happening on sunday February 16.

Getting a handle on the problem – and the solutions

Snow Gums (Eucalyptus pauciflora) are facing a double threat to their survival:

Firstly, while dieback, caused by a native beetle, is a natural occurrence, it is getting worse and more widespread because climate change is making winters warmer and summers drier and hotter. This is leading to widespread loss of individual trees across the Australian Alps. It has had significant impacts on snow gums, especially in the Snowy Mountains and, increasingly, on the Bogong High Plains.

Secondly, climate change is creating conditions where fires in the high country are more frequent and more intense. In recent decades, climate-fuelled bushfires have devastated huge areas of the snow gum forests. There were significant fires in the Victorian High Country in 1998, 2002/3, 2006/7, 2013 and 2019/20. More than 90% of Snow Gum habitat has been burnt at least once in the last 20 years. New research shows that long-unburnt snow gum forests are now exceedingly rare (comprising less than 1% of snow gum forests in the Victorian Alps). Like most eucalypt species, the snow gum can survive fire. However, climate change is leading to more frequent and intense fire, which is causing more death of trees and changes to forest structure.

While most snow gums in the Australian high country are included in national parks, we are on the verge of losing the landscapes that we spent decades protecting.

The forum

We are hosting a 'snow gum summit' which will bring together land managers and academics and anyone interested in the future of this iconic species to explore what needs to be done to ensure the survival of snow gum woodlands, and put the issue firmly on the state governments agenda.

We will be inviting First Nations people, local and state wide environmental organisations, local communities and businesses, groups active in outdoors recreation, and enthusiasts of high-elevation, forest ecosystems.  There will be presentations, workshops and field trips.

We have key experts in the field confirmed to present at the forum:

Russell Mullett, GunaiKurnai Land and Waters Aboriginal Corporation (GLaWAC), on bushfires, archaeology of the high country and biodiversity

Assoc. Prof. John Morgan, Head of Department, Environment & Genetics, La Trobe University, on Snow Gums and fire

Dr. Philip Zylstra, Adjunct Associate Professor, Curtin University School of Molecular and Life Sciences, on fire and land management and implications for snow gum communities

Dr Matthew Brookhouse, Fenner School of Environment and Society, ANU, on snow gums and dieback

Dr Susanna Venn, Associate Professor of Plant Ecology, Centre for Integrative Ecology, School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Deakin University

Dr Tom Fairman, FLARE Wildfire Research, The University of Melbourne

Associate Professor Leah Moore, Land and Water Science, Fenner School of Environment and Society,
FSES, ANU

Aaron Kennedy, Deputy Chief Fire Officer, Director Forest and Fire Operations, Hume, FFMV [NOTE: Aaron has had to cancel because of commitments]

Uncle Shane Monk, male cultural lead and lead tour guide, Taungurung Land and Waters Council

Dave Crea, Australian Alps National Parks Program Manager

Anthony Sharwood, journalist and author of From Snow to Ash

Karl Just, ecologist, on the health of, and threats to, snow gum populations in low land areas

Matt Ruchel, executive director, Victorian National Parks Association

Sarah Lynch, artist documenting the snow gums of the Australian Alps

Mike Edmondson, alpine photographer and guide

Simon Watson, Principal Scientist Forest and Fire Ecology | Knowledge, Planning and Risk, Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action

Dean Heinze and Ian Mansergh on animals of the snow gum country

a new film from Stephen Curtain

Peter Jacobs, Former senior protected area manager, Executive Officer for the Victorian Deer Control Community Network and Chair of the WCPA Mountains Specialist Group

Sam Beaver, Protect our Winters

MCs: Anna Langford & Alana Mountain

The event format

The core part of the summit will happen on Friday 14 February and morning of Saturday 15. It will happen in the village of Dinner Plain.

Format:

FRIDAY (9am - 5pm)

• an appreciation of the high country and snow gums, with speakers panel and new film
  
• presentations: what are the threats to snow gum woodlands
• workshops to drill into details
• presentations: how might we respond to the threats?

SATURDAY (9am - 3.30pm)

• continued presentations on solutions

SUNDAY

• there will be guided walks to areas with special remnants of older snow gum forests, including the Bogong High Plains and Mt Wills.

The event will be limited to 80 people.

It will be available to view remotely via a streaming platform.

The program

 You can find bios for the presenters here.

Please note: if you are tuning in via the livestream, we will do our best to keep this program updated so please check in occassionally to see updates and changes.

Friday February 14, 2025

Saturday February 15 – 8.45am until 3.30pm

• Continue presentations and workshops, with a focus on solutions.

Tickets now on sale

Please note: there are a very small number of in person tickets still available. Once they are gone, to go on the wait list please contact Cam: [email protected]

Tickets were launched on November 14 and are now available. The cost for the 2 day conference is:

Unwaged / concession / student: $80

Waged: $200

The ticket covers:

• Entry to the two day event
• Morning and afternoon tea and lunch on the Friday, plus evening gathering and live music at the venue
• Morning tea and lunch on the Saturday

You will need to organise other meals and your accommodation.

You can also watch the forum online for a fee of $10 for the two days.

Because tickets will be limited to 80 people we strongly suggest you buy them soon.

Tickets are available here.

We offer free attendance for First Nations people. Please contact us to receive a ticket. [email protected]

Walks program

We will be hosting two guided walks on sunday February 16. For details and tickets please check here.

Hosts and Supporters

This is being organised by Friends of the Earth. It is supported by the Dinner Plain Community Association and Victorian Forest Alliance.

The Rendere Trust,

Cathedral Wildlife,

Bright Brewery,

Jasper Coffee,

Freeburgh Hall committee,

Practical Ecology,

Protect our Winters, and

Patagonia Australia have assisted in hosting the summit.

We welcome groups with an interest in the sustainability of the high country to join us as a co-host. Please get in touch to discuss this. [email protected]

Location

Dinner Plain community centre, Dinner Plain, 3898.

Dinner Plain is located 10 km from Mt Hotham alpine village, and is about a 5 hour drive from Melbourne, so please plan to come up on the thursday if traveling from a distance.

Participants will need to organise their own accommodation. We can assist with ideas on accommodation in Dinner Plain and at Mt Hotham, and good options for camping.

Further information

For extra information on the program or to offer a session or other form of involvement, please contact Cam Walker <[email protected]>, 0419 338 047